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How to Care for Your Pearls

Now that you have selected the perfect piece of pearl jewelry, we find that many people want to know the best way of caring for these delicate gems. Pearls if properly preserved can bring many decades of joy and beauty. However, if they are not cared for, they can become dull and lifeless. Here we have a few simple steps that will allow you to enjoy your pearls for years!

Avoid all chemicals

Since pearls are essentially layers of nacre that have been formed, harsh chemicals can destroy the luster and ultimately the pearl. To avoid this, put your pearl jewelry on last. Lotions, hair spray, perfume etc. can harm the nacre of your pearls – so use these products before you put on your pearl jewelry. In particular, make sure your perfume has dried before putting your pearls on. If your hands are oily or greasy from hair gel, hair spray etc. make sure you wash your hands before touching your pearls. If your pearls do come in contact with chemicals, give them a wipe with a soft cloth.

Many women use ultrasonic cleaning machines to clean their jewelry, it is crucial to never use this on your pearls. The chemicals will destroy the luster of the pearl and you will be left with pearls that have no luster, or shine.

Wipe down your pearls

If you are sweating or as women prefer to call it “glistening” it is important to give your pearls a quick wipe with a soft damp cloth before returning them to your jewelry box. It is important to never use tap water as it contains chlorine. Many people get carried away with this concept of wiping down their pearls and will saturate the entire strand. This will not “clean” your pearls any better and will weaken the silk thread they are strung on. If you do need to saturate your entire strand for a specific reason, take care to dry each pearl and lay the strand out flat for it to dry. Many times people will “hang” their pearls to dry which only serves to destroy the silk thread that is holding it together. If you feel that your pearls are dirty and need to be cleaned, you can either take them to a professional or use a very mild and small amount of dish soap to remove the dirt and grime.

Storage

If you have lots of jewelry and your jewelry box is overcrowded – make sufficient room for your pearls to be stored separately. Because of their delicate surface, pearls can be scratched easily if they are stored next diamonds or other sharp object. Over time, other rings, necklaces and earrings will “chip” away at the nacre of your pearls. It is important to store your pearls in a cloth pouch or lined drawer – never hang your pearls as it weakens the thread.

Long Term Care

Pearls need to be and should be worn frequently! So bring them out to be seen. Even if you do not wear your pearls on a regular basis, it is important to have them restrung on a regular basis. It is easy to determine if pearls need to be restrung. If you are able to move the pearls on the string in between the knots – it’s time to bring them in.

Contrary to what many women believe, pearls should not be worn in any type of water. Pools have chlorine which will destroy the luster and shine of a pearl. Additionally, the water will weaken the silk thread and can break. It might seem reasonable that saltwater would be good for pearls – since that is where they came from. But the salt in the water will dry and can create a thin white cloud on the pearl – which will also dull and ruin the luster and shine of the pearl. As pearls develop, they are protected by the shell and water and are not alternatively dried with the saltwater on them. This is the main difference between how saltwater can harm pearls – yet that was the climate in which they developed.

These simple tips will help you keep your pearls in perfect condition and will assure years of beauty! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let us know.